Alex Gibson

Nissan has teased a new concept car, well ahead of its anticipated debut at January's 2014 Detroit auto show.

Shown on screen during a presentation celebrating the Japanese manufacturer’s 80th anniversary at an event in Los Angeles, the images – first published by Autoblog – show an upcoming concept for a future sedan model.

Described at the 'Nissan 360' event by Shiro Nakamura, Nissan senior vice president and chief creative officer of design and brand management, as showing Nissan’s “future design direction” and having a “very strong design signature”, the sedan concept is speculated to preview the next-generation US-model Maxima, which is different to the mid-sized sedan sold locally.

Nissan has previously been reported as saying the next-generation Maxima would arrive for the 2015 model year, making a 2014 concept probable.

The concept appears to evolve several design themes of the current US model (pictured above), including that car’s boomerang-style headlamps and tail-lights that flow into a well-defined rear shoulder.

It also makes use of a blacked-out A-pillar, which sits above a sharply creased front wheel arch, indicating the concept will also borrow certain design themes of the Nissan GT-R supercar.

Nissan says the anniversary celebrations include a month-long series of events focusing on its vehicle technology and sustainability developments, and growth in the global car industry.

The Japanese manufacturer says the theme of sustainable automotive development is clearly expressed by its success in the zero-emissions vehicle market. The Nissan Leaf, a car the brand says is the best selling electric vehicle in history, has sold over 74,000 units worldwide.

The car maker has also indicated plans to extend its reach into the rapidly growing markets of China, Mexico, Brazil and Russia.

The celebrations coincide with Nissan’s execution of ‘Power 88’, a medium-term expansion plan designed to help Nissan achieve 8 per cent global market share by the end of the 2016 financial year.